AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sasha, you’re not leaving with him.” The tone Cash uses stops me in my tracks.
I motion for Gabriel to wait for me outside and I turn to Cash. He’s being unreasonable and speaking completely out of line.
“You’re not my father.” I cross my arms stubbornly. “I thought we already established that.”
He purses his lips, perhaps holding back what he really wants to say.
“You don’t know Gabriel,” he tells me.
“That may be true, but I’m a pretty good judge of character and I trust him.”
“Sasha…” He all but growls my name.
It feels like he’s staking a claim on something that isn’t his.
“I’m a big girl and I can take of myself.”
“I don’t doubt that, but…” he doesn’t finish.
“But what? Is there another reason I shouldn’t go with him?” I challenge.
I can see the flash of what might be jealousy in his eyes, but with him, I can’t tell for sure. He keeps everything locked up inside and it’s confusing. One minute he looks like he’s going to kiss me, and the next, fire me. I just want him to say it, admit it, that he doesn’t want me to go with Gabriel because he feels something for me, but I can already tell he isn’t going to do that.
So I open the door and walk out, feeling the heat of his stare on my back.
Gabriel leans against my Jeep, one ankle crossed over the other as he smiles at me. I know I’m in trouble with this one, but it doesn’t stop me from leaving with him.
Before I pull out of the parking lot, I ask Gabriel, “Where to?”
“Ever seen the L.A. River?” Gabriel asks, smiling brightly.
“No, but I think I’m about to,” I say excitedly.
* * *
Gabriel directsme towards downtown where the traffic is thick. I plug in my phone and shuffle my playlist. Gabriel seems relaxed, crossing his ankle over his thigh and tapping his finger against the armrest.
“So what do you do besides graffiti art?” I ask him.
“This and that.”
“That’s vague.” I keep my eyes on the road. I don’t want to imagine whatthis and thatreally is.
“I help my uncle with the thrift store,” he offers.
“Oh. Do you work the register like what I do in Cash’s store?” I ask innocently, hoping we have something in common.
Gabriel chuckles lightly. “You ask a lot of questions.”
I grip the steering wheel. “Is that a bad thing?”
“Not unless you don’t like the answers.”
I concentrate on the road, maneuvering through the heavy midday traffic. The music shuffles and I tap my finger against the steering wheel.
“Mi papáowns a landscaping company,” Gabriel says out of the blue. “He does a lot of construction too, building fountains, creating beautiful outdoor spaces.”
I keep my eyes on the road and my mouth shut.
